This Month, by Design
Anniversaries, Lingering Jet Lag & a Remedy That Works
February kicked off with intense jet lag, followed by a violent case of the norovirus—yay. Less than 72 hours of getting home from an international flight, our six-year old got super sick. Despite a deep clean and a mini-quarantine period, sure enough—a day later I caught the bug, too. It was everything you don’t want, and more. All I could do was surrender. Between the time zone change and the stomach-wrenching vomiting, I was disoriented and dehydrated—and staying in bed all weekend seemed the only possible way to make it to Monday.
Even though this part of my month was definitely not by design, I spent my half-awake, half-hollowed out state to think about how I want to feel when this episode is over, and what I want to do when I am well. Because when you’re really sick, your mission to get better becomes supercharged.
Now that we’re halfway through the month, here are some things that have helped me get back on my feet, along with some of the brighter moments in an otherwise very long, very cold stretch in New York City. This might also herald the birth of a new monthly series—This Month, by Design where I share things that brought joy, comfort, or just a little more ease in my life over the past few weeks. I hope you can find a few gems in here, too.
What I Wore: The Selk Suit
When the weather forecast was showing negative double digits, I wasted no time to order the Selk Suit. While scrolling in my second day of wearing pajamas, I stumbled across Emma Sutton Williams— a writer from the NY Post who posted this very adorable clip on Instagram of her and her friend dancing towards each other in Central Park in these suits, and it stirred up a lot of interest. I mean—it’s a sleeping bag with arm and leg holes—what could be better? I got it in Burgundy and tested it in -25°C windchill—it delivered. I have never felt so puffy and invincible at the same time.
As the Danes say, “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” which always annoyed me because I hate to admit they (along with my fiercely Winter-loving husband) are right. Plus, it does work as an actual sleeping bag so I can zip the booties back on and host a slumber party in my living room anytime I want. Win-win.
What I Recommend: The Happy Light
A magical device that has been a huge help over the course of this brutal Winter is this little Happy Light. In the mornings when it’s still pitch black out, I turn it on as I’m making my tea in the kitchen. 15 minutes of this light, at about about 6-8 inches away is the secret to beating the winter blues. Our son describes it as looking like a door to another world—he’s not wrong.
Why would I recommend this? It packs a 10,000 lux punch with UV-free LED technology to help reset your circadian clock by giving you a dose of full spectrum light therapy—something we desperately need when it gets dark by 4pm. I’ve told everyone I know suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) like me about this device. We just don’t realize how much we need light until there is none.1 There are lots of different models of these lights on the market but I found the Happy Light checked a lot of boxes for under $40. After a few weeks of consistent use, I can feel my mood improve, and bonus: my plants like it too.
What I Made: Poached Pears with Ginger & Goji
As if a stomach bug wasn’t enough, we have a cough threatening us in our household as well. My entire childhood is littered with memories of terrible coughs and colds, with a prominent thick pink syrup being part of the medicine cabinet. I decided to try a new remedy instead—Poached Pears with Ginger & Goji. Make this as soon as you hear a cough or cold brewing like we did.
1 Pear (Bartlett or Anjou, seeds removed, cut into pieces)
1 Nob of Ginger
3-4 Whole Cloves
3-4 Jujube Dates
6-8 Goji Berries
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1-2 pcs Crystal/Rock Sugar
Filtered water
Put everything into a pot and bring to a boil, then simmer gently until the pear is soft, about 15 minutes. Adjust the sweetness and serve immediately. You can also have this chilled but warm is best for this season. Happy to report this remedy is kid-approved and worked like a charm.
Why does this work? In many Asia cultures, pears contain numerous health benefits and have a wide variety of uses. 2 In traditional Chinese medicine, eating pears helps to clear the ‘heat’, supports the lungs and promotes Yin energy in the body. Whereas Yang is about energy and movement, Yin is about calmness and stillness. During these winter months you want to conserve and restore Yin so you can strengthen your immune system and keep yourself nourished and rested. Even if you don’t have a cough, we should all be eating more pears!
What I Watched: People We Meet on Vacation
While struggling with jet lag in Asia, I watched People We Meet on Vacation about a week after it was released on Netflix, not knowing anything about the book, the author or the actors involved. Let me just say I was glad. There’s nothing better than having zero expectations when watching a movie. Usually my opinions are formed prematurely, or heavily influenced by all the marketing, and the experience is ruined before I ever get to sit down and enjoy a show. Here’s to being blissfully jet-lagged and unaware.
Watching Poppy and Alex’s relationship over the course of several summer was delightful and soul-soothing. It had me laughing, crying, and gasping. I don’t know, are romantic comedies back? Please say so! Now we’re going to need all of Emily Henry’s books adapted for the screen. Also, did anyone else notice the author’s cameo sitting in the church pew at David and Nam’s wedding? That was a nice touch.
What I Read: Males Are the Secondary Sex by Gabrielle Blair
If you’re as annoyed as I am with the news lately, then this brilliant essay by DesignMom aka Gabrielle Blair with make you rethink more deeply how our world works. This is not about men being inferior—but rather how patriarchy is failing us, on so many levels. We desperately need more circles, and less ladders if we want our species to continue.
I see a glimmer though. With Bad Bunny sporting his mother’s name Ocasio on his jersey during the NFL half-time performance, and Jody Allen raising the Lombardi trophy that same evening, these hints of the matriarchy reemerging caught my attention. Plus, ‘drone behaviour’ should be included as one of the words of the year in the Merriam-Webster list and Gabrielle should be credited with this awesome term.
What I Supported: Blk & Bold
February is Black History Month (among many other celebrations), and one of the best ways to show support is buying directly from a Black-owned business. Even though Black-owned businesses are growing, they only make up about 3% of all the businesses in the US! This means every purchase made has an enormous economic impact.3
I’ve been trying to wean myself off of bleached ready-made tea-bags and switch to loose-leaf teas for some time now. But for some reason finding good quality loose-leaf teas in the US are not as easy as you think. I’ve ordered from Full Leaf Tea Co. but find a lot of their leaves too mild. I’m excited to try the Chai Green Tea from Blk & Bold and support the guys behind this venture—they make coffee too! Also love the fact that they have a whole page on their site dedicated to other Black-owned businesses, if you are looking for more than just tea.
What I Celebrated: My Sixth Wedding Anniversary
I missed my wedding anniversary this year. My flight back from Hong Kong got cancelled due to the snowstorm in New York, and I arrived a day late. Year 6 is iron which signifies durability and strength, and it couldn’t have been more appropriate. The stress of rebooking flights, and figuring out childcare 10,000 miles away is just another test, and even though our relationship started over a decade ago, my husband and I have definitely grown stronger over the past six years. When it comes to anniversaries, I must admit he’s way more thoughtful. This year he handed me this hand-forged iron dish from Nantwich, England. I still haven’t figured out what to use it for, but of all our anniversary gifts I think it’s my favorite one by far.
I find these annual milestones a little tricky but I also love the idea of it being thematic. Ours falls at the end of January—exactly a month after Christmas, and a few weeks before my husband’s birthday which always feels like it gets lost in the chaos. I haven’t made a big enough deal about our anniversaries but after this year I would like to take it a bit more seriously—by this I mean having more fun with it. And with that—my hunt for a perfect Year 7 copper gift begins. If you have any creative ideas, please share them!
What I Found: A Lucky Penny
Ever since my father passed in 2021, I’ve been finding signs of him everywhere. The book Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lyne Jackson describes how those on the other side connect with us. They appear in all shapes and forms—numbers, songs, coins, insects and smells being the more common ways.
Recently during a moment where I had been thinking of him, I opened the door to a Lyft and this little penny was sitting on the floor of the passenger seat, beaming up at me. Somehow I knew it was him—it was a reminder that he is always with me ❤️
Grateful for a new beginning.
Please subscribe, and share with anyone you think may be interested in this tiny corner of Substack. And thank you, for an opportunity to start again and to create something new. And wherever you are in your journey and wherever our paths may have crossed, I am grateful for you.
To begin anything - a new practice, a new project, a new love - is to cast upon yourself a Spell against Stagnation. Beginnings ask you to break the pattern of your life and reconfigure it afresh — something that can only be done with great courage and great tenderness, for no territory of life exposes both your power and your vulnerability more than a beginning.
Lorna Bevan
Stay wild. Be well!
Mayo Clinic: Seasonal affective disorder treatment: Choosing a light box, 30 March 2022
Pew Research Center: A look at Black-owned businesses in the U.S, 12 Feb 2025